At our recent match against Swansea the best part of the day was seeing Micky Stockwell doing the prize draw at half-time.

Mick, after more than 600 games for Ipswich Town between 1982 and 2000, is now a kitchen fitter. I’m pretty sure that his new post-football career isn’t a secret long term hobby of his but an economic necessity. Mick was great servant of the club who missed out on today’s riches and definitely never had any celebrity airs and graces.

The new reality for modern players is very different. Gone are the days when a player had a part time job whilst playing or a needed to run a pub or a newsagent or become a kitchen fitter after football retirement. Premiership players and quite a number of Championship players now get so much money that they will never need to work again if they don’t want to.

It has changed players from ordinary blokes who appreciate that they have been very lucky in life but will never forget where they came from and don’t expect any special treatment into celebrities who expect to be treated as such and have lost all touch with reality.

That certainly seems to be the case for Steven Gerrard. Let me explain. I was lucky enough to be invited to the corporate hospitality lounge for the Liverpool v Aston Villa match. When I arrived at the posh entrance at Anfield with my Scouse hosts, Steven Gerrard happened to be just ahead of us. He is injured so wasn’t going to play and wasn’t with the rest of the team in the dressing rooms. About four of us business types, all nicely dressed in suit and tie, wandered over to the lifts to take us to our pre-match dinner and drinks, and casually acknowledging Stevie G’s presence without engaging him into conversation. After all, he was on a day off so we thought we’d respect his privacy.

When the (very large) lift arrived to take us up to the lounge, we were told by the gopher accompanying Stevie G that we couldn’t get in the lift as this was his personal executive transport and surely we would understand he couldn’t be expected to stand in the same space as us ordinary mortals (well, he didn’t actually say that last bit but that was what he meant…). What did he expect? That we were going to mug him or kick him on his injured hamstring? Or maybe he actually believes he is so special that coming anywhere near people like us would diminish his elevated football royalty status.

Taken aback by such treatment, we looked at each other in amazement whilst Stevie G and his man servant disappeared behind the closing lift doors to be whisked up in their private cocoon. Maybe he should have thought of keeping his distance when he got up close and personal with that bloke in a Southport bar.

stiffshorts added 12:18 - Dec 10 Give me Micky S any day of the week. The man's an utter legend in my opinion. I can honestly say I never saw him have an "off" day, even if his passing, for example, wasn't as good as usual his overall commitment to the game and his unending effort won the day. I wish the losers we employ today were made to watch continuous videos of Mick until they too started to put in his effort and commitment to the shirt. Another thing that makes him head & shoulders above the present comics. I was at a BBQ in Ipswich for a mate's birthday (21st I think) in the late 90's. His wife had written to Mick via the club and enquired was there possibility Mick could pop in and say hello to make the day special. He turned up in his flip flops and shorts with his his wfie (I think) and stayed for about 2 hours. What a star. The man's a legend...........long live Micky Stockwell.

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JetaimePeters added 12:19 - Dec 10 Fame fame fatal fame, it can play hideous tricks on the brain! If you were as famous as Steven G you wouldn't want screaming fans round you all the time! It's Sky thats made them rich and made their lives weird! Lets get on with it! Priskins clean through!
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